A Pocketful of Meaning : A

· Acme

of human understanding See Man ~ understanding

· Adam

and Eve

serpent

The meaning of the serpent is attachment to the human world.

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, page 123)

spirit and soul

Adam signifies the heavenly spirit of Adam, and Eve His human soul.

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, page 123)

symbolical

Therefore, this story of Adam and Eve who ate from the tree, and their expulsion from Paradise, must be thought of simply as a symbol. It contains divine mysteries and universal meanings, and it is capable of marvelous explanations.

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, page 123)

tree of good and evil

The tree of good and evil signifies the human world; for the spiritual and divine world is purely good and absolutely luminous, but in the human world light and darkness, good and evil, exist as opposite conditions.

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, page 123)

tree of life

The tree of life is the highest degree of the world of existence: the position of the Word of God, and the supreme Manifestation.

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, page 124)

This tree of life was the position of the Reality of Christ; through His manifestation it was planted and adorned with everlasting fruit

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, page 124)

tree and sin

Sin is the state of man in the world of the baser nature, for in nature exist defects such as injustice, tyranny, hatred, hostility, strife: these are characteristics of the lower plane of nature. These are the sins of the world, the fruits of the tree from which Adam did eat.

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks, page 177)

· Adorned

bride See Law ~ of God

· ‘Akká

is Strong City See Strong City

valley of Achor

It is recorded in the Torah: And I will give you the valley of Achor for a door of hope. This valley of Achor is the city of ‘Akká, and whoso hath interpreted this otherwise is of those who know not.

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, page 170)

· Adversity

fuel of Lamp

How utterly unaware they seem to be of the truth that such adversity is the oil that feedeth the flame of this Lamp!

(Bahá’u’lláh, Gleaning from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, page 72)

· Angel(s)

meaning

The meaning of ‘angels’ is the confirmations of God and His celestial powers. Likewise angels are blessed beings who have severed all ties with this nether world, have been released from the chains of self and the desires of the flesh, and anchored their hearts to the heavenly realms of the Lord.

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, page 86)

12 standing inside 12 gates

... and within these gates there stand twelve angels. By ‘angel’ is meant the power of the confirmations of God—that the candle of God’s confirming power shineth out from the lamp-niche of those souls—meaning that every one of those beings will be granted the most vehement confirming support.

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, page 174)

· Asp

and child See Wolf ~ and lamb